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Tag: Joseph

There are two calendars to be aware of when studying the scriptures; the Jewish or sacred (religious) calendar and the civil calendar.

Note: If you study Bible prophecy always use the months and days from the Jewish calendar when studying events which occurred after the implementation of the Feast of the Lord. These Feast dates are recorded in Leviticus 23. (That’s my instruction given to me from Holy Spirit when I first began to study Bible prophecy).

Christmas (December 25) is the time we celebrate the time of Christ birth. However, I believe the keys scriptures and the prophetic symbolism of the Feast of the Lord contradict man’s tradition of December 25 as Christ birthday. I put together a timeline from some key verses, which point to Jesus’ birthday being in the fall most like at the Feast of Trumpets (Tishri 1).

Month 1: Nisan (Mar-Apr) – Zacharias – performing priestly services. LK 1:8-25 John is conceived during the first month which is Nisan.

Month 6; Elul (Aug-Sep) Gabriel visits with Mary. LK 1-26. Mary informed that Elizabeth is 6 month pregnant LK 1:36 Mary visit with Elizabeth 3 months before returning home in Month 9 which would be the month Kislev, Lk1:56. Hanukkah occurs in Kislev. Mary returned home and most likely conceived Jesus from Holy Spirit during Hanukkah.

Month 9: Kislev (Nov-Dec) Elizabeth gives birth to John. Lk.1:57. This would place John’s birth in the month Hanukkah occurs, not Jesus’ birth. Hanukkah is the Feast of “Dedication” or Feast of Lights. John was dedicated to serve God and prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.

Now let’s work with the clues in the text to locate the approximate time of Christ birth.

Months Before the Birth of Jesus – Caesar’s census decree went out to all the Roman Empire. LK 2:1. It took months for the news of the census decree to travel across the land and then additional time for the people to travel to their birth place where they were counted in the census and paid a tax. I can only assume that the taking of the census went on for more than a year or perhaps even two. However, we do have some clues to the condition of Mary and the season of the year in which they returned to Bethlehem. Mary was about to give birth.

With the decree Mary & Joseph returned to Bethlehem, Jesus is born shortly after Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. LK 2:6-7

The shepherds are in the fields when the angel announces Christ birth. LK 2:8. The shepherds wouldn’t be abiding in the fields in the winter months when the rain and snow fall in some areas. This places the angelic announcement much sooner than winter or the traditional date of December 25.

Tishri 1- Is the Feast of Trumpets established by God. Lev. 23:24. This date is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. Trumpets are blown and the time of the early rains and plowing. It is taught in Jewish lore that Adam was formed on Tishri 1. “So also it is written, “The first MAN, Adam, BECAME A LIVING SOUL.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 1 Cr 15:45

Count backwards 9 months from Tishri to find the month of conception and you get Kislev (Nov-Dec) and Hanukkah, the Feast of Lights. Modern astromony software shows celestial studies very well may indicate that a uniques sign appeared in the heavens above Bethlehem during Tishri in 3BC. It is an amazing look at the celestial events which were occuring in the heavens leading up to Christ birth.

So I believe it’s accurate to say that John the Baptist was born during the month of Kislev and most likely during Hanukkah (Festival of Lights). Jesus was most likely conceived by Holy Spirit during Hanukkah (Jesus, the light of the world JN 9:5). John’s birth proceeded and prepared the way for Christ conception. Nine months later Jesus was most likely born on Tishri 1 during the Feast of Trumpets.

Follow the calendar timeline which I have put together and you will see the scriptures point to Jesus’ birthday being in the fall of the year and not in winter. Some people say, “What does it matter anyway when we celebrate Jesus’ birthday as long as we celebrate it?” Okay, then when your next birthday arrives how about we skip it for three or four months and celebrate it then.

Hebrew Calendar

Timeline for Jesus’ Birthday

Number OF Month

Hebrew Name

Modern Equivalent

Description

BIBLICAL REFERENCES

FEASTS

Sacred

Civil

1(Sacred sequence begins

7

Abib; Nisan

Mar-Apr

Zacharias – performing priestly services.

LK 1:8-25

Passover; Unleavened Bread; First Fruits

(John was conceived in Nisan)

LK 1:36

2

8

Ziv (lyyar)

Apr-May

3

9

Sivan

May-June

Pentecost (Weeks)

4

10

Tammuz

June-July

5

11

Ab

July-Aug

6

12

Elul

Aug-Sep

Gabriel visits with Mary;

LK 1-26

Mary is informed that Elizabeth is 6 months with child (John was conceived in Nisan)

LK 1:36

Mary visit with Elizabeth 3 months then leaves for home

LK 1:56

7

1 Civil sequence begins

Ethanim (Tishri)

Sep-Oct

Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles(Booths)

8

2

Bul (Marcheshvan)

Oct-Nov

9

3

Kislev

Nov-Dec

(This month is the seasonal time for winter rains and snow in some areas)

Mary returned home –(Conceives from Holy Spirit) John is born after 9 months from Nisan

LK 1:56

Hanukkah(Dedication)

Feast of Lights

John is born

Lk 1:57

10

4

Tebeth

Dec-Jan

11

5

Shebat

Jan-Feb

12

6

Adar

Feb-Mar

Ezra 6:15;Esth 3:7,13;8:12;9:1,
15,17,19,21

Purim

Number OF Month

Hebrew Name

Modern Equivalent

Description

BIBLICAL REFERENCES

FEASTS

Sacred

Civil

1(Sacred sequence begins

7

Abib; Nisan

Mar-Apr

Passover; Unleavened Bread; First Fruits

2

8

Ziv (lyyar)

Apr-May

3

9

Sivan

May-June

Pentecost (Weeks)

4

10

Tammuz

June-July

5

11

Ab

July-Aug

6

12

Elul

Aug-Sep

7

1 Civil sequence begins

Ethanim (Tishri)

Sep-Oct

Caesar’s census decree –

LK 2:1

Trumpets, Atonement, Tabernacles(Booths)

Joseph left Galilee to return to Bethlehem

LK 2:4

Jesus born

LK 2:6-7

Shepherds abiding in the fields (Shepherds didn’t abide in the fields in the winter months but moved the sheep to the shelter of caves for the winter months ruling out Kislev as the month of Christ birth.